Kyrgyz science has suffered a heavy loss. On January 29, 2026, the life journey of Yevgeniya Mikhailovna Lushikhina (04.07.1940 - 29.01.2026), a professor and doctor of agricultural sciences, came to an end. Her name became a symbol of the revival of sheep breeding in the country. She was the only woman in this challenging profession, demonstrating that successful breeding requires not only deep knowledge but also patience.
Yevgeniya Mikhailovna was not just the daughter of the renowned academic Mikhail Nikolaevich Lushikhin, but also a worthy heir to his work — the creation of a new breed of Kyrgyz mountain merino.
Few know that in her youth, her dreams were connected to the depths of Issyk-Kul and the profession of ichthyologist. However, fate led her through fundamental biology to her true calling in life. This path, spanning ninety years and encompassing the work of her father, husband, and herself, became the foundation of the national heritage of Kyrgyzstan.
After completing her postgraduate studies at the Institute of Experimental Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR in 1969, Yevgeniya Mikhailovna dedicated herself to science, rising from a laboratory assistant to a leading researcher and head of the laboratory, as well as a scientific supervisor for the improvement of the mountain merino breed. She headed the laboratory at the Institute of Biology and Soil Science of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR, and later the laboratory of genetics and biotechnology at the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2020.
Her legacy is not only history but also the future of the country:
the improvement of the Kyrgyz mountain merino breed. In 2005, it was established that the wool of the Kyrgyz merino is on par with Australian quality. These 18 microns of tenderness and strength became a true "gold reserve" of the republic.
Yevgeniya Mikhailovna also fought for the preservation of the pasture ecosystem: as a deeply thoughtful scientist, she understood the problem more broadly than individual herds. She actively raised issues about soil erosion and the transformation of mountains into deserts, emphasizing that livestock breeding is a strict scientific discipline, not an accidental process.
With a heavy heart, she observed the decline of production capacities, but until her last day, she remained confident that Kyrgyz products would regain their former glory on the international stage.
Yevgeniya Mikhailovna was a talented storyteller. In her lectures, dull statistics transformed into an engaging narrative about life, nature, and duty. She often emphasized: "Breeding is a long process; it is necessary to raise several generations of animals to achieve perfection." She herself was an example of this perfection — both in her profession and in her principles, remaining true to family ideals.
“Why did my family dedicate their lives to this?” she pondered in one of her last interviews. Now the answer to this question lies with us. Preserving her achievements, restoring the system she dreamed of, and protecting our pastures is the best way to honor the memory of this outstanding scientist.
May Yevgeniya Mikhailovna Lushikhina's memory be eternal. Her name will forever remain in the history of the golden fleece of Kyrgyzstan.
The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Yevgeniya Mikhailovna Lushikhina.
